Piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette

ABSTRACT

A piezoelectric lighter includes a gas emission arrangement including a pair of jet nozzles and a gas nozzle communicating with a liquefied gas storage respectively, a gas releasable valve extended from the liquefied gas storage for controlling a flow of gas to the gas emission arrangement, a pair of gas ejecting conduits connected from the gas releasable valve to the two jet nozzles respectively, and a gas ejecting duct connected from the gas releasable valve to the gas nozzle. Therefore, the piezoelectric lighter is adapted for selectively producing two jet flames at the same time when the gas discharged to the two jet nozzles through the gas ejecting conduits and producing a visible flame when the gas discharged to the gas nozzle through the gas ejecting duct.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to piezoelectric lighters, and more particularly to a piezoelectric lighter which can provide both jet flame and visible flame for selectively lighting cigar, pipe and cigarette. Thus, the piezoelectric lighter comprises two jet nozzles adapted for producing double jet flames at the same time so as to increase a burning area of the piezoelectric lighter.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0004] Piezoelectric lighters have been known and sold through the world. A conventional piezoelectric lighter comprises a single gas emitting nozzle for producing either a jet flame or a visible flame. It is known that a visible flame type piezoelectric lighter, such as a conventional cigarette lighter, provides a general temperature visible flame that fits for lighting up a cigarette or a cigar so as to avoid an emitting gas from the lighter to destroy the taste of the tobacco. However, the jet flame type piezoelectric lighter comprises an ignition element can produce a high temperature jet flame wherein the ignition element is adapted for maintaining a high temperature adequate to re-ignite the emitting gas so as to provide a windproof function of the lighter. Smokers always have a conflict to choose the visible flame type lighter in order to keep the taste of the cigarette or the jet flame type lighter for conveniently. Pipe smokers will more concern the flame to light up the high quality of tobacco.

[0005] Moreover, since the jet flame type piezoelectric lighter is more powerful than the visible flame type piezoelectric lighter, the jet flame type piezoelectric lighter employs more gas to produce the stronger jet flame. In order to increase the flaming ability, the flow of emitting gas must be increased for ignition. However, the flame does not getting stronger proportionally because the emitted gas is not completely ignited, which is a waste of gas. Thus the single gas emitting nozzle can only provide a limited burning area which is the area of the flame can reach.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] A main object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette wherein the piezoelectric lighter is adapted for selectively producing both jet flame and visible flame.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette wherein the piezoelectric lighter comprises two jet nozzles for producing double jet flames at the same time so as to increase a burning area while being gas employed effective.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette wherein the operation of the piezoelectric lighter requires one single continuous motion for selectively producing the jet flame and visible flame, which is advantageous in practical use.

[0009] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette, which comprises:

[0010] a casing having a liquefied gas storage;

[0011] a gas emission arrangement comprising a pair of jet nozzles and a gas nozzle communicating with the liquefied gas storage respectively;

[0012] a gas ejecting arrangement comprising a gas releasable valve extended from the liquefied gas storage for controlling a flow of gas to the gas emission arrangement;

[0013] a lever arm disposed in the casing in a vertical movable manner having a lifting end engaged with the gas releasable valve and an engaging end arranged in such a manner that when the engaging end of the lever arm is lifted upwardly, the lifting end of the gas lever lifts up the gas releasable valve for releasing gas;

[0014] a piezoelectric unit, which is disposed in the casing for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part extended upwardly and an ignition tip extended to a position closed to the gas emission arrangement in such a manner that when the movable operating part is depressed downwardly, spark is generated from the ignition tip to ignite a gas emitted from the gas emission arrangement at the same time;

[0015] an ignition button slidably mounted on a ceiling of the casing in a vertical movable manner wherein the ignition button is attached to a top end of the piezoelectric unit and arranged in such a manner that when the ignition button is depressed downwardly, the movable operating part of the piezoelectric unit is depressed to ignite the piezoelectric lighter; and

[0016] a lighter cap slidably mounted on the ceiling of the casing in a radially movable manner wherein the lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to the engaging end of the gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when the lighter cap is slid sidewardly, the pivot arm lifts up the engaging end of the lever arm for releasing gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 3A is a partially sectional view of the piezoelectric lighter producing a jet flame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3B is a partially sectional view of the piezoelectric lighter producing a visible flame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention

[0021]FIG. 4 is a partially perspective view of a gas regulating means of the piezoelectric lighter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a piezoelectric lighter for cigar, pipe, and cigarette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The piezoelectric lighter comprises a casing 10 having a liquefied gas storage 11, a gas emission arrangement 20 comprising a pair of jet nozzles 21, 22 and a gas nozzle 23 communicating with the liquefied gas storage 11 respectively, a gas ejecting arrangement 30 comprising a gas releasable valve 31 extended from the liquefied gas storage 11 for controlling a flow of gas to the gas emission arrangement 20.

[0023] A lever arm 40 is disposed in the casing 10 in a vertical movable manner having a lifting end 41 engaged with the gas releasable valve 31 and an engaging end 42 arranged in such a manner that when the engaging end 42 of the gas lever 40 is lifted upwardly, the lifting end 41 of the gas lever 40 lifts up the gas releasable valve 31 for releasing gas. Accordingly, the lever arm 40 has a tip 411 integrally extended from the lifting end 41 of the lever arm 40 wherein the tip 411 is mounted on a bottom of the gas releasable valve 31 to lift up the gas releasable valve 31.

[0024] The piezoelectric lighter further comprises a piezoelectric unit 50, an ignition button 60, and a lighter cap 70.

[0025] The piezoelectric unit 50, which is disposed in the casing 10 for generating piezoelectricity, comprises a movable operating part 51 extended upwardly and an ignition tip 52 extended to a position closed to the gas emission arrangement 20 in such a manner that when the movable operating part 51 is depressed downwardly, spark is generated from the ignition tip 52 to ignite a gas emitted from the gas emission arrangement 20 at the same time.

[0026] The ignition button 60 is slidably mounted on a ceiling of the casing 10 in a vertical movable manner wherein the ignition button 60 is attached to a top end of the piezoelectric unit 50 and arranged in such a manner that when the ignition button 60 is depressed downwardly, the movable operating part 51 of the piezoelectric unit 50 is depressed to ignite the piezoelectric lighter.

[0027] The lighter cap 70 is slidably mounted on the ceiling of the casing 10 in a radially movable manner about an operation axle 701 provided in the casing 10, wherein the lighter cap 70 comprises a pivot arm 71 extended to the engaging end 42 of the lever arm 40 and arranged in such a manner that when the lighter cap 70 is slid sidewardly, the pivot arm 71 lifts up the engaging end 42 of the gas lever 40 for releasing gas. In other words, in a normal position, the gas releasable valve 31 blocks the gas releasing from the liquefied gas storage 11 until the lighter cap 70 is slidably opened with respect to the casing 10.

[0028] According to the preferred embodiment, the two jet nozzles 21, 22 are upwardly extended to the ceiling of the casing 10 in parallel manner wherein the gas nozzle 23 is upwardly extended to the ceiling of the casing 10 and positioned between the two jet nozzles 21, 22 in such a manner that the ignition tip 52, which is extended to a position closed to the jet nozzles 21, 22, generates spark to ignite the emitted gases both from the jet nozzles 21, 22 for producing jet flames and from the gas nozzle 23 for producing a visible flame.

[0029] The gas ejecting arrangement 30 further comprises a pair of gas ejecting conduits 32, 33 connected from the gas releasable valve 31 to the two jet nozzles 21, 22 respectively and a gas ejecting duct 34 connected from the gas releasable valve 31 to the gas nozzle 23. Accordingly, the gas releasable valve 31 is a 3-way discharging valve having an inlet 311 downwardly extended from the liquefied gas storage 11, and three outlets 312, 312, 314 connected to the gas ejecting duct 34 and the gas ejecting conduits 32, 33 respectively.

[0030] Both the gas ejecting conduits 32, 33 and the gas ejecting duct 34 are preferably made of flexible material such as plastic such that the gas ejecting conduits 32, 33 and the gas ejecting duct 34 are capably of compressing and bending to fittedly connect from the gas releasable valve 31 to the gas emission arrangement 20.

[0031] It is worth to mention that when the gas is normally discharged from the liquefied gas storage 11, the gas passes through the gas releasable valve 31 directly to the gas ejecting duct 34 to the gas nozzle 34 for producing a visible flame, as shown in FIG. 3B. When the gas cannot pass through the gas ejecting duct 34, the gas will detour and discharge through the gas ejecting conduits 32, 33 to the two jet nozzles 32, 33 respectively for producing two jet flames, as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the piezoelectric lighter further comprises a gas regulating means 80 for selectively detouring the emitted gas from the gas ejecting arrangement 30 to the gas emission arrangement 20 wherein the gas regulating means 80 comprises a U-shaped locking member 81 transversely supported in the casing 10 and securely holding the gas ejecting duct 34, and a depressible arm 82 downwardly extended from the ignition button 60 and arranged to be driven downwardly towards the locking member 81 when the ignition button 60 is depressed downwardly to compress the gas ejecting duct 34 for blocking the gas passing therethrough.

[0033] Accordingly, the locking member 81 comprises an upper elastic arm 811 and a lower arm 812 therebetween wherein the gas ejecting duct 34 is securely held between the upper elastic arm 811 and the lower arm 812, as shown in FIG. 4A in such a manner that when the depressible arm 82 is driven downwardly to depress the upper elastic arm 811, the gas ejecting duct 34 is compressed for blocking the gas passing therethrough, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0034] In order to ignite the piezoelectric lighter, the lighter cap 70 must be sidewardly slid in a radially movable manner so as to lift up the engaging end 42 of the gas lever 40 for releasing gas from the liquefied gas storage 11. Then, a downward force must be intentionally applied on the ignition button 60 to compress the piezoelectric unit 50 for generating spark so as to ignite the emitted gases from the two jet nozzles 21, 22 through the gas ejecting conduits 32, 33, as shown in FIG. 3. Once the downward force is released from the ignition button 60, the gas releasable valve 31 will automatically switch for discharging the gas to the gas nozzle 23 through the gas ejecting duct 34 for producing the visible flame, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the piezoelectric lighter provides both two jet flames when the ignition button 60 is pressed downward and the visible flame once the ignition button 60 rebounded back to its original position. Once the lighter cap 70 is slid back to its original position, the gas releasable valve 31 drops down to its original position so as to block the gas releasing from the liquefied gas storage 11.

[0035] In view of the above disclosure of the preferred embodiment, it is apparent that the present invention can achieve the following advantages:

[0036] (1) The piezoelectric lighter can selectively produce both jet flame and the visible flame for lighting up a cigar, pipe, and cigarette according to a user's preference.

[0037] (2) The piezoelectric lighter can produce two jet flames at the same time so as to increase the burning area of the piezoelectric lighter.

[0038] (3) Since two flows of gas are evenly emitted from the two jet nozzles through the gas ejecting conduits respectively, the quantity of the jet flame will be double comparing with a conventional single jet flame piezoelectric lighter. Thus, the gas will be efficiently ignited from the jet nozzles to produce stronger jet flames so that no gas is wasted in the ignition process.

[0039] (4) The ignition process of the piezoelectric lighter only requires on single motion to selectively produce the jet flame and the visible flame for easy manipulation. In other words, the piezoelectric is advantageous in practical use. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A piezoelectric lighter, comprises: a casing having a liquefied gas storage; a gas emission arrangement comprising a pair of jet nozzles and a gas nozzle communicating with said liquefied gas storage respectively; a gas ejecting arrangement comprising a gas releasable valve extended from said liquefied gas storage for controlling a flow of gas to said gas emission arrangement; a lever arm disposed in said casing in a vertical movable manner having lifting end engaged with said gas releasable valve and an engaging end arranged in such a manner that when said engaging end of said gas lever is lifted upwardly, said lifting end of said gas lever lifts up said gas releasable valve for releasing gas; a piezoelectric unit, which is disposed in said casing for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part extended upwardly and an ignition tip extended to a position closed to said gas emission arrangement in such a manner that when said movable operating part is depressed downwardly, spark is generated from said ignition tip to ignite a gas emitted from said gas emission arrangement at said same time; and an ignition button slidably mounted on a ceiling of said casing in a vertical movable manner wherein said ignition button is attached to a top end of said piezoelectric unit and arranged in such a manner that when said ignition button is depressed downwardly, said movable operating part of said piezoelectric unit is depressed to ignite said piezoelectric lighter.
 2. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said gas ejecting arrangement further comprises a pair of gas ejecting conduits connected from said gas releasable valve to said two jet nozzles respectively and a gas ejecting duct connected from said gas releasable valve to said gas nozzle for selectively discharging gas from said liquefied gas storage to said jet nozzles and said gas nozzle respectively.
 3. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said gas releasable valve is a 3-way discharging valve having an inlet downwardly extended from said liquefied gas storage, three outlets connected to said gas ejecting duct and said two gas ejecting conduits respectively for selectively discharging gas to said gas nozzle and said two jet nozzles respectively.
 4. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a gas regulating means for selectively detouring said emitted gas from said gas ejecting arrangement to said gas emission arrangement wherein said gas regulating means comprises a U-shaped locking member transversely supported in said casing and securely holding said gas ejecting duct, and a depressible arm downwardly extended from said ignition button and arranged to be driven downwardly towards said locking member 81 when said ignition button is depressed downwardly to compress said gas ejecting duct for blocking said gas passing therethrough.
 5. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a gas regulating means for selectively detouring said emitted gas from said gas ejecting arrangement to said gas emission arrangement wherein said gas regulating means comprises a U-shaped locking member transversely supported in said casing and securely holding said gas ejecting duct, and a depressible arm downwardly extended from said ignition button and arranged to be driven downwardly towards said locking member 81 when said ignition button is depressed downwardly to compress said gas ejecting duct for blocking said gas passing therethrough.
 6. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said locking member comprises an upper elastic arm and a lower arm therebetween wherein said gas ejecting duct is securely held between said upper elastic arm and said lower arm in such a manner that when said depressible arm is driven downwardly to depress said upper elastic arm, said gas ejecting duct is compressed for blocking said gas passing therethrough.
 7. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein said locking member comprises an upper elastic arm and a lower arm therebetween wherein said gas ejecting duct is securely held between said upper elastic arm and said lower arm in such a manner that when said depressible arm is driven downwardly to depress said upper elastic arm, said gas ejecting duct is compressed for blocking said gas passing therethrough.
 8. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 1, further comprises a lighter cap slidably mounted on said ceiling of said casing in a radially movable manner wherein said lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to said engaging end of said gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when said lighter cap is slid sidewardly, said pivot arm lifts up said engaging end of said lever arm for releasing gas.
 9. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 2, further comprises a lighter cap slidably mounted on said ceiling of said casing in a radially movable manner wherein said lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to said engaging end of said gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when said lighter cap is slid sidewardly, said pivot arm lifts up said engaging end of said lever arm for releasing gas.
 10. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 3, further comprises a lighter cap slidably mounted on said ceiling of said casing in a radially movable manner wherein said lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to said engaging end of said gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when said lighter cap is slid sidewardly, said pivot arm lifts up said engaging end of said lever arm for releasing gas.
 11. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 5, further comprises a lighter cap slidably mounted on said ceiling of said casing in a radially movable manner wherein said lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to said engaging end of said gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when said lighter cap is slid sidewardly, said pivot arm lifts up said engaging end of said lever arm for releasing gas.
 12. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 7, further comprises a lighter cap slidably mounted on said ceiling of said casing in a radially movable manner wherein said lighter cap comprises a pivot arm extended to said engaging end of said gas lever and arranged in such a manner that when said lighter cap is slid sidewardly, said pivot arm lifts up said engaging end of said lever arm for releasing gas.
 13. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein said lever arm has a tip integrally extended from said lifting end of said lever arm wherein said tip is mounted at a bottom of said gas releasable valve to lift up said gas releasable valve when said engaging end of said lever arm is lifted upwardly.
 14. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 7, wherein said lever arm has a tip integrally extended from said lifting end of said lever arm wherein said tip is mounted at a bottom of said gas releasable valve to lift up said gas releasable valve when said engaging end of said lever arm is lifted upwardly.
 15. A piezoelectric lighter, as recited in claim 12, wherein said lever arm has a tip integrally extended from said lifting end of said lever arm wherein said tip is mounted at a bottom of said gas releasable valve to lift up said gas releasable valve when said engaging end of said lever arm is lifted upwardly. 